William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
Encyclopedia
William FitzOsbern Lord of Breteuil
, in Normandy
, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnate
s of early Norman
England. He was created Earl of Hereford
before 22 February 1067, one of the first peerage titles in the English peerage
.
, a nephew of Duchess Gunnor, the wife of Duke Richard I of Normandy
. Osbern had been the steward
of his cousin Duke Robert I of Normandy, and when Robert left the Duchy to his young son William, Osbern had been one of Duke William's guardians but was killed defending the person of Duke William against an assassination attempt sometime around 1040. Osbern had married Emma, a daughter of Count Rodolf of Ivry, who was a half-brother of Duke Richard I of Normandy
. Through her he inherited a large property in central Normandy
, including the honours of Pacy
and Breteuil
.
s of the feasibility of the invasion. He is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror
known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings
in 1066.
FitzOsbern's younger brother Osbern
was one of Edward the Confessor
's chaplains, and possessed the rich church of Bosham
in Sussex, and was well-placed to pass along intelligence
on the situation in England. He later became Bishop of Exeter
.
, and then before 22 February 1067 he was made Earl of Hereford
as well as Gloucester, Worcester and Oxfordshire. That part of England was not yet fully under Norman control; the understanding must have been that FitzOsbern was to take charge of their conquest when he was able. In the summer of 1067 the King returned to Normandy, leaving FitzOsbern and Bishop Odo of Bayeux in charge of England in his absence. The King was back in England in 1068, and fitzOsbern accompanied him in the subjugation of southwest England. He attended the King's Whitsun
court in May, and then himself paid a visit to Normandy
, where he fell ill for some months.
In February or March 1069 FitzOsbern was given charge of the new castle at York
, but he returned south in time to attend the King's Easter court in April.
Anglo-Saxon
resistance in the West Midlands
was subdued later in 1069, and it is likely FitzOsbern played a major part in this, though the details are not certain. During this time FitzOsbern and his followers pushed on into Wales
, beginning the conquest of the Welsh Gwent.
builders. Early castles attributed to him include Carisbrooke
on the Isle of Wight
and then in South Wales
Chepstow
(Striguil
), Wigmore, Clifford Castle
and Monmouth Castle
, as well as creating or improving the fortification
s of the towns of Hereford
and Shrewsbury
.
, where King William's brother-in-law Baldwin VI of Flanders had died, leaving his county and his young sons in the hands of his widow Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut
. Her control of Flanders was challenged by the brother of her late husband, Robert the Frisian. Looking for help, she offered herself in marriage to fitzOsbern. He could not resist the chance to become also Count of the rich Principality in the German Empire
, close to Normandy. He hurried there with his army, but nevertheless was defeated by the Count of Flanders, losing his life in the Battle of Cassel
on 22 February 1071.
. One assumes that he also married Richilde
shortly before the Battle of Cassel
. He was succeeded in Normandy by his eldest son, William of Breteuil and in England and Wales by his younger son, Roger de Breteuil
. His daughter Emma married Ralph de Gael, 1st Earl of Norfolk. William of Breteuil was held captive and tortured by his daughter's unwelcome suitor, Ascelin Gouel de Perceval 'Lupus', Sire de Yvery, until he finally granted daughter Isabella de Breteuil's hand in marriage to him.
William FitzOsbern lived in Carisbrooke Castle.
Breteuil
-Places in France:*Breteuil, Eure, in the Eure département*Breteuil, Oise, in the Oise département...
, in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s of early Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
England. He was created Earl of Hereford
Earl of Hereford
The title of Earl of Hereford was created six times in the Peerage of England. See also Duke of Hereford, Viscount Hereford. Dates indicate the years the person held the title for.-Earls of Hereford, First Creation :*Swegen Godwinson...
before 22 February 1067, one of the first peerage titles in the English peerage
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
.
Background
He was the son of Osbern the StewardOsbern the Steward
Osbern the Steward, known in French as Osbern de Crépon , was the Steward of two Dukes of Normandy and the father of William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford, one of William the Conqueror's closest counsellors.- Biography :...
, a nephew of Duchess Gunnor, the wife of Duke Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy , also known as Richard the Fearless , was the Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996; he is considered the first to have held that title.-Birth:He was born to William I of Normandy, ruler of Normandy, and Sprota...
. Osbern had been the steward
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
of his cousin Duke Robert I of Normandy, and when Robert left the Duchy to his young son William, Osbern had been one of Duke William's guardians but was killed defending the person of Duke William against an assassination attempt sometime around 1040. Osbern had married Emma, a daughter of Count Rodolf of Ivry, who was a half-brother of Duke Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy , also known as Richard the Fearless , was the Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996; he is considered the first to have held that title.-Birth:He was born to William I of Normandy, ruler of Normandy, and Sprota...
. Through her he inherited a large property in central Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, including the honours of Pacy
Pacy-sur-Eure
Pacy-sur-Eure is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in north-western France.-Population:-External links:*...
and Breteuil
Breteuil
-Places in France:*Breteuil, Eure, in the Eure département*Breteuil, Oise, in the Oise département...
.
Early life
William fitzOsbern was probably raised at the court of his cousin and namesake Duke William, and like his father, became one of the ducal stewards. He was one of the earliest and most vigorous advocates of the invasion of England, and tradition holds that he convinced the doubters amongst the Norman baronBaron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
s of the feasibility of the invasion. He is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror
Companions of William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror had men of diverse standing and origins in France, under his command at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, along with others completing his Norman conquest of England until after the Harrying of the North and before the Anarchy....
known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
in 1066.
FitzOsbern's younger brother Osbern
Osbern FitzOsbern
- Life :FitzOsbern was a relative of King Edward the Confessor as well as being a royal chaplain. During Edward's reign he received the church at Bosham, near Chichester. He was one of those present at the consecration of Westminster Abbey at Christmas 1065. He was a steward for King William I of...
was one of Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
's chaplains, and possessed the rich church of Bosham
Bosham
Bosham is a small coastal village and civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England, about ) west of Chichester on an inlet of Chichester Harbour....
in Sussex, and was well-placed to pass along intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
on the situation in England. He later became Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
.
In England after 1066
As Duke William took control of England (becoming William I of England), FitzOsbern was given charge of the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, and then before 22 February 1067 he was made Earl of Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
as well as Gloucester, Worcester and Oxfordshire. That part of England was not yet fully under Norman control; the understanding must have been that FitzOsbern was to take charge of their conquest when he was able. In the summer of 1067 the King returned to Normandy, leaving FitzOsbern and Bishop Odo of Bayeux in charge of England in his absence. The King was back in England in 1068, and fitzOsbern accompanied him in the subjugation of southwest England. He attended the King's Whitsun
Whitsun
Whitsun is the name used in the UK for the Christian festival of Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's disciples...
court in May, and then himself paid a visit to Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, where he fell ill for some months.
In February or March 1069 FitzOsbern was given charge of the new castle at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, but he returned south in time to attend the King's Easter court in April.
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
resistance in the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
was subdued later in 1069, and it is likely FitzOsbern played a major part in this, though the details are not certain. During this time FitzOsbern and his followers pushed on into Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, beginning the conquest of the Welsh Gwent.
Castle builder
As part of the assertion of Norman control over England (and Wales), FitzOsbern was one of the major Norman castleCastle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
builders. Early castles attributed to him include Carisbrooke
Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle located in the village of Carisbrooke, near Newport, Isle of Wight, England. Charles I was imprisoned at the castle in the months prior to his trial.-Early history:...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and then in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
Chepstow
Chepstow Castle
Chepstow Castle , located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire in Wales, on top of cliffs overlooking the River Wye, is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain...
(Striguil
Striguil
Striguil or Strigoil is the name which was used from the 11th century until the late 14th century, for the port and Norman castle of Chepstow, on the Welsh side of the River Wye which forms the boundary with England...
), Wigmore, Clifford Castle
Clifford Castle
Clifford Castle is a castle in the village of Clifford which lies four miles to the north of Hay-on-Wye in the Wye Valley in Herefordshire, England .-Early Norman castle and planned settlement:...
and Monmouth Castle
Monmouth Castle
Monmouth Castle is a castle site in the town of Monmouth, county town of Monmouthshire, south east Wales.- Location :Monmouth Castle is located close to the centre of Monmouth town on a hill towering over the River Monnow, behind shops and the main square and streets...
, as well as creating or improving the fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
s of the towns of Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
and Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
.
Distraction and death in Flanders
In 1070 trouble arose in FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, where King William's brother-in-law Baldwin VI of Flanders had died, leaving his county and his young sons in the hands of his widow Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut
Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut
Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut .Since the county of Hainaut would pass to the Counts of Flanders through marriage to her, she has often been mistakenly recorded a daughter of Regnier V of Mons, who was actually her father-in-law.She was married firstly to Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut,...
. Her control of Flanders was challenged by the brother of her late husband, Robert the Frisian. Looking for help, she offered herself in marriage to fitzOsbern. He could not resist the chance to become also Count of the rich Principality in the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, close to Normandy. He hurried there with his army, but nevertheless was defeated by the Count of Flanders, losing his life in the Battle of Cassel
Battle of Cassel (1071)
The Battle of Cassel was fought on 22 February 1071 between Robert I of Flanders and his nephew, Arnulf III . The battle was a victory for Robert I of Flanders, Arnulf III was killed in the battle....
on 22 February 1071.
Personal life
FitzOsbern married first Adeliza de Tosny, daughter of Roger I of TosnyRoger I of Tosny
Roger I of Tosny or Roger of Hispania was a Norman nobleman of the House of Tosny who took part in the Reconquista of Iberia. He was the son of Raoul I of Tosny....
. One assumes that he also married Richilde
Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut
Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut .Since the county of Hainaut would pass to the Counts of Flanders through marriage to her, she has often been mistakenly recorded a daughter of Regnier V of Mons, who was actually her father-in-law.She was married firstly to Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut,...
shortly before the Battle of Cassel
Battle of Cassel (1071)
The Battle of Cassel was fought on 22 February 1071 between Robert I of Flanders and his nephew, Arnulf III . The battle was a victory for Robert I of Flanders, Arnulf III was killed in the battle....
. He was succeeded in Normandy by his eldest son, William of Breteuil and in England and Wales by his younger son, Roger de Breteuil
Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford
Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford , succeeded to the earldom of Hereford and the English estate of William Fitz-Osbern in 1071.- Disobeying King William :...
. His daughter Emma married Ralph de Gael, 1st Earl of Norfolk. William of Breteuil was held captive and tortured by his daughter's unwelcome suitor, Ascelin Gouel de Perceval 'Lupus', Sire de Yvery, until he finally granted daughter Isabella de Breteuil's hand in marriage to him.
William FitzOsbern lived in Carisbrooke Castle.
External links
- http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=all&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOOP2=any&CISOFIELD2=lis&CISORESTMP=results.php&CISOVIEWTMP=item_viewer.php&CISOMODE=grid&CISOGRID=title%2CA%2C1%3Bcreato%2CA%2C1%3Bsubjec%2CA%2C0%3Bdescri%2C200%2C0%3Bsource%2CA%2C0%3B20%3Btitle%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone&CISOBIB=title%2CA%2C1%2CN%3Bsubjec%2CA%2C0%2CN%3Bdescri%2C200%2C0%2CN%3Bnone%2CA%2C0%2CN%3Bnone%2CA%2C0%2CN%3B20%3Btitle%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone&CISOTHUMB=20+%284x5%29%3Btitle%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone&CISOTITLE=20%3Btitle%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone&CISOHIERA=20%3Bsubjec%2Ctitle%2Cnone%2Cnone%2Cnone&CISOSUPPRESS=1&CISOBOX1=legat&CISOBOX2=byucompounddocument+&CISOROOT=%2FFH1%2C%2FFH2%2C%2FFH3%2C%2FFH4%2C%2FFH5%2C%2FFH6%2C%2FFH7%2C%2FFH8%2C%2FFH9%2C%2FFH10%2C%2FFH11%2C%2FFH12%2C%2FFH13%2C%2FFH14%2C%2FFH16%2C%2FFH17%2C%2FFH18%2C%2FFH19%2C%2FFH20%2C%2FFH21%2C%2FFH22%2C%2FFH23%2C%2FFH24%2C%2FFH25%2C%2FFH26%2C%2FFH27%2C%2FFH28%2C%2FFH29%2C%2FFH30%2C%2FFH31%2C%2FFH32%2C%2FFH33%2C%2FFH34%2C%2FFH35%2C%2FFH36%2C%2FFH37%2C%2FEuropeanGa%2C%2FFHSFW%2C%2FFHMedieval%2C%2FFHSSpiker%2C%2FFamHistSeri%2C%2FFilipinocar%2C%2FBYUHOralHis%2C%2FFHSHOGAR%2C%2FFHSLeHoual%2C%2FFHSL%2C%2FFHSS%2C%2FFHSCD%2C%2FFHLiahonaEJFamily History Archives: Ancestry of John S. Gustin and his wife, Susan McComb : including an account of John Hubbard, second husband of Elinor Shepherd (see Adobe Reader's pages 90–94)]
- Castle at Chepstow
- Anglo Norman Castles
- Hay on Wye Castle
- Bwlch y Dinas Castle